It is not difficult to imagine libraries as classrooms. How could I imagine it as being anything other than that when it is a place where books can be found? After all, growing up people automatically assumed that I was smart (never ask me any questions that include numbers, please and thank you!) simply because I liked to read. It was like people saw a book and automatically thought it meant I was learning something. And I have to say, with all the books of teenagers dying or suffering at the hands of some source of evil that I read throughout middle school and high school, the only thing I was learning was how to not cry while reading in public and how cruel the world could be. That and I had a good enough vocabulary that my brother once said, “stop being a show-off, no one talks like that.” Ah, memories!
But all jokes aside, books do teach us things and they’re found in libraries. This stands true, but with advancements in technology and a wider range of programming now happening in libraries, libraries provide communities with so much more than books as a source of learning. There are those libraries that provide cooking and sewing classes, those that provide citizenship classes, those that teach patrons how to use 3D printers, and those that provide early literacy programs like story times, among many other things. At my public library, we provide students with homework support. I am in charge of coordinating this program in the branch and often have students who have trouble reading come in for help. In case you’re wondering after my earlier statement, I do also help with the math problems! Though I have made it a point to be honest that I do not help beyond eighth grade math. To quote Abed Nadir, “I’m gifted in other ways.”
When I reflect about the opportunities for learning at my library, I realize that it doesn’t have to come from a program. When older patrons come in with phone troubles, we teach them how to navigate their device. Since we started using Princh for printing, we have had to teach patrons how to upload their print jobs. We teach patrons how to use our library catalog to find books at our branch and to place holds from others. Sometimes people need help with their laptops in either changing a setting or in how to download a document and we will show them how. Learning at the library happens in many different ways outside of programming and that is such a cool thing!
And the best part about me choosing librarianship as a career? I once considered a career in teaching. Now I realize that in a certain way, I still get to have a little of that too.
